DrSamuel Boone

Project Opportunities:

1. Title: Deep-time Thermochronology of the Grand Canyon

Summary of Opportunity:

This project aims to re-evaluate the deep-time thermochronology of the Mesoproterozoic-Phanerozoic stratigraphy exposed in the Grand Canyon, USA through combined multi-method thermochronology and numerical thermal history and exhumation modelling. Specifically, the project aims to address three main research aims:

(i) Improve our understanding of the age and cause of the exhumation event(s) which led to the development of the "Great Unconformity" through acquisition of new zircon fission-track analysis and coupled thermal history modelling.

(ii) Using monazite and apatite fission-track and apatite (U-Th)/He analyses to re-evaluate the antiquity and incision history of the Grand Canyon.

(iii) Perform empirically calibrated numerical exhumation and landscape evolution modelling to unravel the Mesozoic-Cenozoic physiographic evolution of the Colorado Plateau.

The project is a collaboration between the University of Sydney Quantitative Earth Systems (QuESt) Lab, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Melbourne Thermochronology Group, where the candidate will visit to perform lab analyses.

The preferred candidate will:

·        have a Hons or MSc degree in a related field,

·        be an experienced field geologist,

·        have expertise in tectonics and/or landscape evolution,

·        have a proven ability of conducting and/or interpreting geochronology and thermochronology analyses,

·        have strong science communication skills,

·        and be able to work as part of a large, diverse research group.

·        An existing publication record and pre-existing knowledge of the field area are considered major advantages.

Additional Information: 
This opportunity/project is part of the Faculty of Science ARC Scholarship scheme and will be advertised on the Scholarship Office website in March 2026.
-  The selected applicant is expected to commence their candidature from RP3 July 2026 onward. 
-  The application process is separate from applying for admission to the University of Sydney.  
-  The scholarship will only be awarded once the successful scholarship applicant has received an unconditional offer of admission. 
-  International applicants are responsible for securing any necessary visas and costs to enable study based in Sydney.

2. Title: Geochronology-Calibrated Deep Time Global Landscape Evolution Models

Summary of opportunity:

The PhD is in an exciting interdisciplinary project, developing cutting-edge numerical approaches for (i) understanding source-to-sink systems at regional to global scales, and (ii) utilising geochronology, geochemistry and thermochronology to calibrate and evaluate goSPL landscape simulations on the local, regional and global scales. It is ideal for a person who is interested in applying numerical landscape evolution modelling and its application to coupled tectonics and source-to-sink systems. Competitive applicants will have prior experience with developing innovative numerical geoscience workflows, as well as a keen interest in the interplay of sedimentology, structural geology, Earth resources, and the crustal geochemistry-geochronology-thermochronology record. Applicants require a degree in a related discipline.

Research interests:     My research aims to better our understanding of how the Earth has evolved and operates by studying the thermal and tectonic history of the crust in relation to the growth and breakup of continents, and the long-term evolution of landscapes. To do this, I integrate field observations and structural geology with thermochronology, geochronology, geochemistry and numerical Earth system modelling techniques.

Research location/building:     Madsen Building

Project keywords: landscape evolution; numerical modelling; earth surface processes; geochronology; tectonics; source-to-sink

Opportunity synopsis:
The successful candidate will join a dynamic team of Earth scientists at the University of Sydney. We have a recognised track record in community software development, whole-Earth modelling, open-access data sets, and applied geochronology-thermochronology. We foster cross-disciplinary collaboration across a range of interests and research areas in Australia and overseas. Opportunities to attend national and international conferences are encouraged to disseminate scientific research and collaborate with researchers and industry partners.If you would like to discuss this project, please do not hesitate to contact the project supervisors: Dr Samuel Boone,  A/Prof Tristan Salles and Dr Sabin Zahirovic

----------Current Research Projects----------

• Integrating geochemistry data with numerical geoscience modelling
  Integrating geochemistry, geochronology and thermochronology data to parameterise and validate numerical plate tectonic, geodynamic and landscape evolution modelling.
• EarthBank
  Leading the University of Sydney Node of the national AuScope EarthBank Project, developing the EarthBank platform, an open-access data platform for geochemistry Big Data from around the globe.
  https://www.auscope.org.au/ausgeochem
• Thermochronology for tracing mineral resource preservation
  Using thermochronology and numerical modelling to constrain the exhumation and preservation history of mineral deposits, such as assessing the exhumation and preservation uranium, tungsten and molybdenum ores in China. More recently, Sam has begun collaborating with the Geological Survey of New South Wales and the Melbourne Thermochronology Research Group in a thermochronology investigation of the Cobar Basin of central NSW with the aim of constraining the post-mineralisation exhumation history of basin-hosted Cu-Au-Pb-Zn-Ag deposits.
• Why do continents break apart?
  Using the Cenozoic East African Rift System as a natural laboratory and collaborating with scientists from the University of Melbourne, Monash and Stony Brook, this project utilises a new unique combination of geochronology, thermochronology, structural geology, geophysics, geodynamic simulations and analogue modelling to investigate the roles tectonic inheritance, mantle plume activity, and far-field plate tectonic forces in driving continental rifting.
• Gondwana breakup and the interplay of tectonics, climate and resources
  Working with Australian, Polish, American, and Italian geoscientists to use thermochronology to reconstruct 250 million years of erosion history and landscape evolution at the margins of Gondwana in response to continental rifting and climate-induced weathering.
• Characterising the Neoproterozoic East African Orogen
  Working with colleagues from the University of Adelaide Tectonics and Earth Systems Group using structural and metamorphic geology, geochemistry and geochronology to improve the spatiotemporal chronology of the Neoproterozoic East African Orogeny which resulted in the amalgamation of Gondwana.
• Constraining exhumation events in Deep Time
  Using mid- and low-temperature thermochronometers to constrain the timing and rate of Neoproterozoic exhumation events and elcuidate their potential relationship to the supercontinent cycle and global glaciation events.
• Fingerprinting ancient bush fires
  A project using the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires as a natural laboratory to explore the potential of temperature-sensitive radiometric dating techniques as novel methods for fingerprinting ancient wildfires in the deep past.
• Development of new thermochronology techniques
  Performing a series of fundamental and applied studies aimed at the development of new, and improvement of existing temperature-sensitive radiometric dating techniques capable of measuring the thermal history of geological materials through deep time.